Clothes pin



Feb. 4, 1964 R. A. D] PIANO CLOTHES PIN Filed Dec. 11, 1961 INVENTOR.

ROGER A. D] PIANO ATTO RNEYS United States Patent 3,l2il,tl44 CLOTEEE S PEN Rcger A. Di iiano, 46 Constitution Ave, Revere, Mass. Filed Dec. 11, W61, Ser. No. 158,235 (Claims. (Cl. 24-139) The present invention relates to a clothes pin and more particularly to a clothes pin formed of a single piece of Wire or the like.

Conventional Wooden clothes pins have not been altogether satisfactory. These pins split easily and ofiten cause splinters. They are relatively unyielding and consequently not easily used. Often such pins will split when inserted on a line or will not satisfactorily hold the clothes particularly when subject to stresses such as caused by Winds or the like. Conventional pins moreover, absorb dirt and often stain and damage delicate clothing.

Att inpts, have been made to substitute clothes pins of Wire. However, such pins have in the past been relatively complicated in arrangement and expensive to manufacture. Often such pins require adjustment or manipulation of interlocking parts. Such pins do not lend themselves to a use in which the pin and the clothing being hung on the line must be held in the same hand. Other arrangements of wire clothes pins are such that so much tension is placed between the portions adapted to hold the clothing, that it is substantially impossible to intereng-age the clothing on the line without the use of two hands.

These and other faults in existing wire clothes pins have substantially negated the utility of such wire pins, with the consequence that most clothes pins now in use are still of the very old conventional Wooden pin type.

The applicant has overcome these disadvantages of both the conventional Wooden clothes pin and of earlier attempts to provide a wire pin, in the present invention. This invention provides a pin of a single piece of elongated Wire formed with a pair of parallel legs lying in a plane and resiliently interconnected by a first loop. A transverse leg is formed integral with the other end of the second leg through a second loop. This transverse leg extends angularly from the plane in which the two parallel legs lie in a direction towards the second mentioned leg and the first mentioned loop, thereby forming between this transverse leg and the first leg, a space to receive clothing and a clothes line. A third loop is formed at the end of the transverse leg and is located between the first and second mentioned loops in such a mmner as to engage the clothes line when the pin is in use. The entire construction is formed of a resilient wire and adapted to permit easy insertion of clothes and a clothes line between the transverse leg and the first mentioned leg, but with sufficient rigidity in the first memtioned loop to cause the first and second legs to maintain their substantial parallel relationship.

This arrangement thereby provides a pin which requires less bulk, is not likely to split or spread, is easy to use, is clean and washaible.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation;

FIG. 3 is an end view looking from the right of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation looking at the side opposite that shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an end elevation as viewed from the left of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation similar to that of FIG. 4, but showing a clothes line and piece of clothing being inserted, and,

"ice

FIG. 7 is a view similar to 'FIG. 6, with the clothes line and clothing in an engaged position.

The clothes pin of the present invention is [formed preferably of an anodized extruded aluminum wire but may be formed of other similar materials having a degree of resiliency similar to that of the aluminum wire described herein. Other metals, as for example, steel have been found useful for making such pins. However aluminum is preferred because it is easier to iabricate and is relatively less expensive than many other metals. The Wire may vary in diameter depending upon the metal used and the degree of resiliency desired. This length of wire is formed with a pair of substantially parallel legs including a first leg 11 and second leg 2. The legs 1 and 2 are preferably coplanar and are integrally interconnected by a first loop 3. In stating that legs 1 and 2 are substantially parallel, it is recognized that there is a slight divergence in the preferred form, as best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4. It is also understood that the first loop 3 has substantially a U shaped configuration. However, other .forms of loops are also contemplated, including as for instance a bulbous type loop lying in the plane oi legs 1 and 2.

A second loop 4 also lies in the plane of legs 1 and 2, with one end integral with the second leg 2 at 5, and with its other end 6 continuous and integral with a transverse leg '7. The transverse leg 7 extends angularly from the plane of legs 1 and 2 in a direction towards the second leg 2 near loop 3 and terminates at its upper end in a third loop 8.

Transverse leg 7 and loop 4 are preferably tangential at 9 with first leg 1 and at this point of tangency lie in the plane of legs 1 and 2. A force is created between the transverse leg 7 and leg 1 at this point of tangency 9 which is maintained by the rigidity of loop 3. This point of tangency 9 creates a pressure or gripping point which is useful for securing the clothes pin on the line and in tight engagement with clothing.

Loop 8 lies in a plane parallel to the plane in which legs 1 and 2. lie and is located intermediate loops 3 and d with its open end it} directed towards loop 4. This loop '8 is spaced approximately one-eighth the length of legs 1 and 2 from the end of loop 3. The loop 8 terminates at its free end in a lip 11 which is adjacent and preferably parallel to leg 1. The segments of legs 1 and 2 and loop 3 which project beyond loop 8 form a handle or grasping end, best illustrated in FIG. 4 at 12. The free end of leg 1 is flared outwardly from but coplanar with leg 2 in a flared end or section 14.

When the clothes pin is used it is grasped in the handle section 12 with the forefinger and thumb. The clothes pin 15 with clothing 16 draped over it is forced between loop 4 and flared end 14 at the point of tangency or the pressure point 9. The leg 1 is thereby moved in a direction opposed to legs 2 and 7, permitting insertion of the clothes line 15 and clothes 16 into the space 18. When the pin is forced down into its final engaging position over the clothes line, the clothes line 15 and clothing 16 are snugly engaged by loop 8 with loop 3 projecting above the line and forming a handle for easy removal of the clothes pin. The pressure point 9 firmly engages the clothing 15 in the manner of a clamp to prevent accidental dislodgement of the pin. The rounded portions of the WlIG at this pressure point 9 however, prevent damage to the clothing.

When the clothing is to be removed from the line, the pin is grasped in the handle section 12 and pulled upwardly. Because of the taper between the legs 7 and 1 towards pressure point 9, there is a gradual spreading of these legs without any abrupt tension on the pin, the line or the clothing, thereby avoiding possible damage to the clothing or difiiculty in removing the pin.

3 What is claimed is: 1. A clothes pin adapted to releasably secure clothes or the like to a clothes line formed of an elongated length of Wire having,

a pair of substantially parallel legs both lying in a plane and connected by a loop integrally connecting adjacent ends of said legs,

one of said legs having its free end flared away from the second of said legs,

a second loop lying in said plane with one end integral with said second leg and the other end of said second loop integral with a transverse leg,

said transverse leg extending angularly from said plane in a direction toward said second leg and said first loop,

and a third loop lying in a plane parallel to said first mentioned plane and intermediate said first and second loop,

said third loop integral at one end with the free end of said transverse leg and terminating at its other end in a lip adjacent said first leg whereby the clothes line is grasped by said third loop and the clothes or the like hanging over said clothes line are pinched between a portion of the second loop, a portion of the transverse leg and a portion of said first leg.

2. A clothes pin formed of an elongated length of wire having,

a pair of substantially parallel legs,

both lying in a plane,

a first loop lying in said plane and having its ends integral one each with adjacent ends of said legs,

a second loop lying in said plane and having one end integral with the second of said legs,

a transverse leg extending angnlarly from said plane in a direction toward said second leg and said first loop,

and a third loop lying in a plane parallel to said first mentioned plane and intermediate said first and second loop,

said third loop integral at one end with the free end of said transverse leg and having its other end adjacent said first leg whereby the clothes line is grasped by said third loop and clothes or the like hanging over said clothes line are pinched between a portion of the second loop, a portion of the transverse leg and a portion of said first leg.

3. A clothes pin as set forth in claim 2,

wherein said first leg has its free end normally adjacent said second loop and having its free end flared away from said second leg.

4. A clothes pin formed of an elongated length of wire having a pair of substantially parallel legs,

both lying in a plane,

means or resiliently maintaining said legs in said parallel relation comprising a loop integral with adjacent ends of said legs,

means constricting the space between the other ends of said legs comprising a second loop integral at one end with the second of said legs,

means for engaging a clothes line intermediate said legs comprising a third loop intermediate said first and second loop, said third loop disposed outside of the plane formed by said parallel legs and having a lip extending towards said second loop and facing said first leg,

and means interengaging said second and third loops comprising a transverse leg integral at its ends with said second and third loops whereby the clothes line is grasped by said third loop and clothes or the like hanging over said clothes line are pinched between a portion of the second loop, a portion of the transverse leg and a portion of said first leg.

5. A clothes pin as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first legs and said transverse leg when forced apart to receive a clothes pin diverge from each other from said second loop and form a space adjacent said third loop between said first and second legs adapted to receive a clothes line.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A CLOTHES PIN ADAPTED TO RELEASABLY SECURE CLOTHES OR THE LIKE TO A CLOTHES LINE FORMED OF AN ELONGATED LENGTH OF WIRE HAVING, A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL LEGS BOTH LYING IN A PLANE AND CONNECTED BY A LOOP INTEGRALLY CONNECTING ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID LEGS, ONE OF SAID LEGS HAVING ITS FREE END FLARED AWAY FROM THE SECOND OF SAID LEGS, A SECOND LOOP LYING IN SAID PLANE WITH ONE END INTEGRAL WITH SAID SECOND LEG AND THE OTHER END OF SAID SECOND LOOP INTEGRAL WITH A TRANSVERSE LEG, SAID TRANSVERSE LEG EXTENDING ANGULARLY FROM SAID PLANE IN A DIRECTION TOWARD SAID SECOND LEG AND SAID FIRST LOOP, AND A THIRD LOOP LYING IN A PLANE PARALLEL TO SAID FIRST MENTIONED PLANE AND INTERMEDIATE SAID FIRST AND SECOND LOOP, SAID THIRD LOOP INTEGRAL AT ONE END WITH THE FREE END OF SAID TRANSVERSE LEG AND TERMINATING AT ITS OTHER END IN A LIP ADJACENT SAID FIRST LEG WHEREBY THE CLOTHES LINE IS GRASPED BY SAID THIRD LOOP AND THE CLOTHES OR THE LIKE HANGING OVER SAID CLOTHES LINE ARE PINCHED BETWEEN A PORTION OF THE SECOND LOOP, A PORTION OF THE TRANSVERSE LEG AND A PORTION OF SAID FIRST LEG. 